Fire extinguishing system

ABSTRACT

A fire extinguishing system for gas stations and the like of the type having an island on which the gas pumps are mounted, the system comprising spaced nozzles mounted in or on the curb of the island and a source of pressurized fire extinguishing dry chemical power with conduit means interconnecting said source and said nozzles, whereby when the system is operable, the dry chemical powder will emit from said nozzles in a pressurized spray characterized by an upward trajectory.

United States Patent m1 Forrest 51 Jan.30,1973

[54] FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM [21] Appl. No.: 142,542

[52] US. Cl ..169/2 R, 169/16, 169/37, 239/202, 239/597 [51] Int. Cl ..A62c 3/00 [58] Field of Search ..169/2 R, 4, 5,16, 37; 239/200, 201, 202, 282, 592, 597,601

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,085,754 4/1963 Thompson ..239/D1G. 1 3,463,233 8/1969 Haessler ..169/4 X 479,979 8/1892 Glenn ..239/202 2,059,190 11/1936 Allen ..239/201 X 3,063,502 11/1962 Lakind ..169/2 R 3,398,899 8/1968 Fry ..239/592 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 644,609 10/1928 France 239/202 627,529 11/1961 ltaly ..169/37 6,704,264 9/1967 Netherlands ..239/202 Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Attorney-Salter 8L Michaelson [57] ABSTRACT A fire extinguishing system for gas stations and the like of the type having an island on which the gas pumps are mounted, the system comprising spaced nozzles mounted in or on the curb of the island and a source of pressurized fire extinguishing dry chemical power with conduit means interconnecting said source and said nozzles, whereby when the system is operable, the dry chemical powder will emit from said nozzles in a pressurized spray characterized by an upward trajectory.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAHO I973 3,713,492

" INVENTOR LEONARD W. FORREST FIG.4 BL/MrWM ATTORNEYS FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION There has long been a need for an effective fire extinguishing system for gas stations and the like because of the fact that gas fumes and other combustibles are ever present at such locations. Carelessly thrown matches by patrons who smoke, sparking by automotive equipment and the like, and various other means frequently are effective to trigger combustion in such an atmosphere and environment.

In order to extinguish fires of this nature, it is common practice in gas stations to employ portable extinguishers. The disadvantages of such a practice are obvious, however, since the extinguisher may not be available atjust the moment it is needed, or else it may be out of repair at a critical time, etc. Accordingly, it has been found desirable to provide a built-in fire extinguishing system for gas stations, the system being characterized by a novel fire extinguishing nozzle which emits a pressurized spray of a dry chemical fire extinguishing powder which will cover the most dangerous area, namely, the area surrounding the conventional island in a gas station where the gas pumps are located and around which automobiles being serviced are located.

My system basically comprises the provision of a plurality of fire extinguishing nozzles mounted in spaced relation on the opposite side curbs of the island. A source of pressurized dry chemical fire extinguishing powder is provided at any convenient location, preferably on the island itself, and conduit means interconnect said source and said nozzles so that when the system is operable, a pressurized spray of dry chemical fire extinguishing powder will be dispensed by the nozzle and will cover the area of maximum fire danger, namely, the area surrounding the island on which the gas pumps are located. Since the nozzles are mounted in or on the curbs of the island and therefore are necessarily positioned at a relatively low level, i.e., approximately a couple ofinches off the ground, the dispensing nozzles'are provided with a unique and special structural arrangement so that the pressurized spray will have an upward trajectory sufficient to cover the gas tanks of surrounding vehicles.

Description of the Drawings In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. I is a perspective view showing a portion of an island in a gas station having my fire extinguishing nozzle mounted therein;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the nozzle per se;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view thereof, on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the nozzle illustrating the upward trajectory of the spray;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the nozzle illustrating the side-to-side sweep of the spray; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a modified nozzle construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown at 10 a conventional island of the type normally found in gas stations, the island having side curbs 12 extending downwardly to the paved area 14 of the gas station. The side curb 12 is provided with a recessed area 16 in which is positioned a fire extinguishing nozzle shown generally at 18. The island 10 has thereon one or more conventional gas pumps 20, and there also is provided on the island a container or canister 22 which houses a supply of a pressurized dry chemical fire extinguishing powder, such as sodium bicarbonate, postasium bicarbonate, or the like. It has been found that maintaining the powder under a pressure of approximately 350 pounds provides highly satisfactory results, and it will further be understood that suitable conduit means 24 interconnect nozzle 18 and container 22, said conduit means preferably being embedded in the island 10. Thus, when the system is operable, a pressurized spray of the dry chemical fire extinguishing powder will be dispensed by the nozzle 18 in a manner to be hereinafter more fully described in order to extinguish any fires that may commence in the area surrounding the island 10.

It will be understood that the container 10 need not necessarily be located on island 10, but rather can be positioned at any other remote point, the only thing of importance being that suitable piping interconnect said container and the nozzle 18. Also, it will be understood that in actual practice the opposite side curbs 12 of the island 10 will each be provided with a series of spaced nozzles 18; and, in this connection, it has been found that three spaced nozzles on each side of the usual gas station island provide quite satisfactory results. The recesses 16 which receive the nozzles insure that the nozzles will not protrude outwardly from the island, thus minimizing the danger of accidental breakage of the nozzles. Although it is preferred to mount the nozzles as just described, it will be understood that other mounting means could be employed, the important thing being that the nozzles are mounted in close adjacency to the island curbs.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 5, it will be seen that the nozzle 18 has a semicircular head portion 26 which merges with a hex portion 28 having therein a threaded bore in order to permit threaded attachment of the nozzle 18 to the conduit 24. A diametrically disposed dispensing slot 30 extends across head portion 26 and is characterized by a flat, substantially horizontally disposed bottom surface 32 and an upper surface having two portions, i.e., a first horizontal portion 34 and a second portion 36 which inclines upwardly adjacent the outer end of slot 30. Specifically, it has been found that where the chemical is under three hundred fifty pounds pressure, a slot having a depth of approximately three thirty-seconds inch between surfaces 34 and 32 and then inclining upwardly for approximately 8, as shown at 38, has proven to be highly satisfactory in operation. It should be further noted that the length of portion 34 is slightly more than the length of upwardly inclined surface 36; and, specifically, it has been found that good results are obtained where the length of surface 34 is three-eighths inch and the length of the inclined surface 36 is five-sixteenths inch. This results in a spacing at the outer end of slot 30 of approximately one-eighth inch. It is important to note that in operation the nozzle 18 is disposed so that surface 36 inclines upwardly. This is important, since the nozzle 18, being located in or on the curb of the island 10, is at a relatively low level; and since it is highly desirable that the fire extinguishing powder cover the gas tanks of surrounding vehicles, it is important that the pressurized spray have an upward trajectory. The upward inclination 36 provides such a trajectory, as shown in FIG. 4.

The normal side-to-side sweep of nozzle 18, as shown in FIG. 5, is substantially greater than 90 and actually approximates 130. However, by joining two nozzles to each other in substantially perpendicular disposition, as shown in FIG. 6, the side-to-side sweep of the combined nozzles will cover a full 180, thus insuring complete coverage of the surrounding area. It has been found, however, that satisfactory results are obtained where spaced single nozzles are employed on opposite curbs of the island.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described.

What is claimed is: l. A fire extinguishing system for gas stations and the like of the type having an island on which a gas pump is mounted, a source of pressurized dry fire extinguishing chemical powder, a nozzle mounted adjacent the curb of the island, conduit means interconnecting said chemical source and said nozzle whereby when the system is operative, said chemical sprays under pressure from said nozzle, said nozzle being arranged so as to provide a spray having an upward trajectory and a side-to-side sweep of substantially more than 90.

2. In the system of claim 1, said nozzle being mounted in the curb of said island, the curb of the island having a recessed area in which said nozzle is positioned.

3. In the system of claim 1, there being a plurality of nozzles on each side of the island, said chemical source being located on the island.

4. In the system of claim 1, said nozzle comprising two nozzle heads joined to each other in substantially perpendicular disposition, whereby the combined sideto-side sweep of the two heads is at least 180.

5. In the system of claim 1, said nozzle having a semispherical head, a dispensing slot extending diametrically across said head, the bottom surface of said slot being flat and substantially horizontally disposed, the upper surface of said slot having an upward inclination adjacent the outer end of the slot.

6. In the system of claim 5, said upward inclination being approximately 8 and commencing to a point slightly more than one half of the distance from the 

1. A fire extinguishing system for gas stations and the like of the type having an island on which a gas pump is mounted, a source of pressurized dry fire extinguishing chemical powder, a nozzle mounted adjacent the curb of the island, conduit means interconnecting said chemical source and said nozzle whereby when the system is operative, said chemical sprays under pressure from said nozzle, said nozzle being arranged so as to provide a spray having an upward trajectory and a side-to-side sweep of substantially more than 90* .
 1. A fire extinguishing system for gas stations and the like of the type having an island on which a gas pump is mounted, a source of pressurized dry fire extinguishing chemical powder, a nozzle mounted adjacent the curb of the island, conduit means interconnecting said chemical source and said nozzle whereby when the system is operative, said chemical sprays under pressure from said nozzle, said nozzle being arranged so as to provide a spray having an upward trajectory and a side-to-side sweep of substantially more than 90* .
 2. In the system of claim 1, said nozzle being mounted in the curb of said island, the curb of the island having a recessed area in which said nozzle is positioned.
 3. In the system of claim 1, there being a plurality of nozzles on each side of the island, said chemical source being located on the island.
 4. In the system of claim 1, said nozzle comprising two nozzle heads joined to each other in substantially perpendicular disposition, whereby the combined side-to-side sweep of the two heads is at least 180* .
 5. In the system of claim 1, said nozzle having a semispherical head, a dispensing slot extending diametrically across said head, the bottom surface of said slot being flat and substantially horizontally disposed, the upper surface of said slot having an upward inclination adjacent the outer end of the slot. 